[image-62]Curiosity, carrying laboratory instruments to analyze samples of rocks, soil and atmosphere, is investigating whether Mars has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. Ames is contributing to this exciting mission in a variety of ways.

Science

CheMin: Ames is the lead for the Chemical and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument which will identify and quantify the minerals in Martian rocks and soils.

Ames is also support other science instruments on Curiosity, including:

ChemCam: Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) is a rock-zapping laser instrument that observes the resulting flash through a telescope to identify the chemical elements in the target.

SAM: The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument has three laboratory tools for analyzing gases pulled from rocks and soil samples, as well as from the Martian atmosphere.

REMS: The Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) will provide daily weather reports from the Red Planet using a suite of meteorological instruments.

PICA: Researchers invented the unique thermal protection system consisting of tiles made of Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) that the MSL spacecraft will use to safely reach the surface of the Red Planet.

MSLICE: Engineers developed the Mars Science InterfaCE (MSLICE) software tool in collaboration with engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to plan the actions of the Mars rover and maximize scientific research.

Antares: Ames engineers and computer scientists in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, Calif., and JPL developed visualization and simulation software to plan and generate command sequences for the rover science cameras.

Click image for full resolution.
This oblique view of the lower mound in Gale Crater shows layers of rock that preserve a record of environments on Mars.